Day 2

Evening

"Tina, Felix, Nick, this is Eve. She's going to be helping me with my children."

The aforementioned humans all stared at Selina. Then they turned their heads towards "Eve" who the previously mentioned woman was talking about.

And they proceeded to question something that made even Nick Mercer worried about putting his trust into the Huntress;

Was Cynthia insane?

Granted, all three had seen her attempt feats that could also be considered "crazy". Fighting the Order to rescue two strangers she had just met. Purchasing children from a sketchy woman in the slums, and then running back to specifically fight the gang members pursuing her for that exact reason. Fighting two Mamono at once with no assistance whatsoever.

However, all of those things had reasonable explanations behind them. She fought the Mamono to protect Nick, Maggie, and her children. She fought the Order to save Felix and Tina, giving the two of them the second chance at life they wanted. Regardless of the insanity of her actions, they had assumed they could always find some rationality behind it.

Now?

Not a single one of them could understand why she would let an inanimate doll watch over her children.

Tina, wearing one of the new dresses Cynthia had bought for her, chuckled nervously. Her quirked up into a false grin as she turned to the Huntress, "Um...Cynthia? Could you be more...specific in what you're trying to show us?"

Nick and Felix both nodded in agreement. They all hoped that Cynthia was playing some joke on them. That their savior and host was simply trying to get a laugh at their expense. They didn't know much about her, so perhaps this was a way she entertained herself.

That hope was dashed when Cynthia's hopeful smile turned into a dejected frown. She sighed while shaking her head and walking over to her bed where "Eve" was sitting. The doll was slumped forward on the edge of the bed, its porcelain body stiff and lifeless. The light of the moon coming through the windows were the only illumination and seemed to focus solely on the doll itself.

Cynthia sat next to the doll and spoke, "As expected. None of you can see her. Would I be correct in saying you can't see Matilda either?"

Cynthia pointed a finger towards the other major event happening in the room. That being her two children playing around with another doll. This was Matilda.

She was far smaller than "Eve". The same size as Cytnhia's children. She wore a similar gothic gown to Cynthia, but it was clearly made to cover her entire body. The dark purple color complimented the red ribbon that tied its silver hair into a single ponytail. There were no frills nor extra embellishments upon its clothing. It was a simple, plain gown that covered its feet.

However, while the children did seem to enjoy playing with it, the same problem with "Eve" persisted with "Matilda".

The fact that the doll was inanimate.

Now, the three humans could forgive the children for acting like the doll was alive. The way Gloria would hold its hands while spinning around in a circle, or Horace would do what he could to keep the girl from doing anything too dangerous. While also acting as a "horse" for Gloria and "Matilda" when asked. They were children, after all. Regardless of whatever horrible things they had gone through, they were still willing to believe that things that aren't alive are alive.

The issue was that Cynthia suggested that she could "see" what they saw as well.

Meaning she also believed that these inanimate objects were real, living creatures.

The three humans weren't sure how to respond to that knowledge. Tina was taking deep breaths while counting backwards from ten. Then she put on a grin and said, "Well, I think they're...lovely. I am sure...they will be fine companions for your...children, Cynthia."

While seeing the Huntress like this was...strange, she didn't want to be too judgmental. Cynthia had proven herself to be someone with their head on straight. And the children she adopted seemed to be happy from where she was standing. Maybe this was just a simple quirk she had yet to see? One that wouldn't matter much in the long run? She turned to her husband, "And besides, it's not that strange to talk to dolls when you're an adult. Right, honey?"

"Oh, uh, urgh, of course," Felix chuckled nervously. He was going through every mental gymnastic he had to try to rationalize what he was seeing. Perhaps Lady Cynthia had hit her head at some point? Or maybe the blow she took for him struck a little deeper than he expected? Something to explain why she thought inanimate dolls were alive.

But of the three, Nick Mercer was going through the worst of it. Because had to come to terms with two things in rapid succession.

The first, was that Cynthia wasn't a noble. She was, more or less, a Sell-sword. Which meant that if Montgomery ever bothered to do even a little bit of research, he would've discovered the truth. Meaning he wouldn't have had to act in desperation and give Jet's band a chance to kill him. Meaning that Maggie was only safe and unsoiled because Brigid didn't do his due diligence. He had gotten so lucky, that he was certain the world had no luck left for him.

The second?

That the person that Maggie owned her life to, that he owed his life to, that is giving them a home outside of the slums, is arguably the strongest person in Pran, and is the kindest person he's ever met...talks to dolls like their real people.

He had no words for the situation.

He could only stand there, his mouth agape, as his eyes were locked onto Cynthia. The woman in question had an indifferent look on her face. She placed both hands in her lap and spoke, "It is fine, everyone. I understand if you see this as strange. However, know that Eve has been with me for a long, long, long time. To the point where I see her as a true companion. Thus, she will be staying here but she will not leave the house. Else we have a repeat of this moment."

She turned to the doll and nodded, "Thank you for understanding, Eve."

"...OK!" Tina clapped her hands then walked over to Felix. She grabbed his arm and started to pull him out of the room, "Come on, Felix! I need to see what you think of the gowns Cynthia bought me."

"Wha-but-wait-," Felix tried to protest but couldn't stop his wife from dragging him out the door.

Nick remained standing for a bit. Then he merely shook his head before slowly backing up towards the door. When he finally spoke it was in a dull, emotionless voice, "Right. I'm...I'm gonna...I'm gonna...I'm just gonna go. Sorry, Cynthia."

And like that, he was out the door.

Selina waited until she was certain all three had left the room. Then she sighed while shaking her head, "Perfect. They all think I'm crazy now."

Eve's hand fell onto the Huntress' shoulder, her voice soft and gentle as she spoke, "It is not your fault, Good Hunter. None of them possess the Insight you do. None of them can see beyond the veil to see something such as myself as living."

Selina looked up at her friend then pointed towards her children...who were playing with a very animated Matilda. She flatly asked, "Then explain that to me, Eve. How can my children see both you and Matilda despite having no Insight? Nor encountering anything that could give it to them?"

Eve turned her gaze towards the two children and her new assistant.

Matilda's eye was still missing but the hole where it used to be was covered by white bandages. Where they came from, neither the Doll nor the Huntress knew. They simply "grew" over the former Mamono's face when she was..."reborn" for lack of a better turn. She was currently holding onto Gloria's arms while spinning around in a circle. The latter did the same, with Horace standing in the middle of the two with a smile on his face. Gloria and Matilda kept going until they got dizzy and fell to the floor.

Gloria got up first, hand on her head to keep it steady, "Woah. The room is spinning."

"I know," Matilda giggled, her voice a lighter tone than before, "It only last a couple seconds though. But those seconds are fun! Watch!"

Matilda managed to get to her shaky legs and began to stumble her way towards the bed. She managed to make it halfway before she fell to the floor. Rather than cry though, she merely lifted her head and began to laugh again.

Gloria tried to copy her new doll but ended up falling back onto her butt. Horace quickly came over and helped her to her feet. She thanked him as he led her over to the fallen doll. Once there he helped Matilda up as well, who was more than happy to let the young boy pull her to her feet.

Eve and Selina observed the children with neutral expressions. Then Eve spoke, "I believe it is because they are children, Good Hunter. While they may have experienced terrible things in the past, they still harbor the ability to accept the strange and surreal. Thus, while they have no Insight into the truth of things, they still choose to believe that they exist. Thus, they can see us."

"That seems...rather convenient," the Huntress frowned while placing a hand on her chin, "Maybe being around me has done it? I haven't shown them anything that could give them Insight? Does it have something to do with me being the Master of the Dream? But...I gained no Insight when I first met Gehrman. And...,"

"Mommy?" Selina looked down to see Horace pulling at the hem of her dress.

With a smile, Selina reached down and pulled him into her lap, "Yes, Horace? What is it?"

"Gloria's getting tired," he pointed at his sister who was rubbing at an eye while yawning.

"Am...am not," was Gloria's reply. Any other protest were interrupted by a yawn.

Horace turned back to the Huntress, "Can we sleep in here with you and Auntie Eve?"

Selina hummed to herself for a moment. She looked up at the ceiling while her eyebrows furrowed in contemplation, "Hmm, I'm not sure. Maybe if you two get ready for bed before I do? Do you think you can do that?"

"Uh huh!" Horace nodded while hopping off the Huntress' lap. He got behind Gloria and grabbed her shoulders, "Come on, sis. Lets get ready for bed!"

"But I'm not tired," Gloria tried to protest. But she did little to stop Horace from guiding her out the room.

When the two were gone, Matilda walked over to stand in front of the Huntress. She looked up at the Good Hunter with a smile on her face, "You really have wonderful children, Good Hunter. They are so energetic and playful. I hope to-"

"I killed you Matilda."

Matilda went quiet but her smile stayed on her face. She tilted her head at the Huntress, "Yes, you did. But I still live. See?"

The former Mamono twirled in place to emphasize, "Not a single scratch on me."

Selina shook her head kneeling down to be closer tot he former Mamono, "But the fact remains that I killed you. And now you are...you something else. Someone else. I've done this before. With an Ochimusha named Kogero, now known as Koga. He...he doesn't remember anything about his past life. Only bits and pieces. My actions may have undone his monsterization...but it did so by destroying who he used to be."

She shook her head, "Even if good comes from those actions, I will never forgive myself for it. And I will not forgive myself for doing this to you. Death is a better alternative to having your memories erased and forced to live as someone else. Thus, if you wish to leave my home and return to wherever you came from, you are free to do so whenever you want. I will not keep you prisoner here. And, should you find yourself wishing harm upon me for my transgressions, then merely say so. I will let you get whatever closure you desire."

Selina went silent, expecting to see the same reaction she got from Koga. Matilda's face contorting into confusion, then rage, then eventually screaming out at her situation. For her to lament the fact that she can no longer remember who she was. It is her right do so, after all.

But, to her shock, Matilda didn't do that.

Instead, she just kept smiling at the Huntress. Her voice lost none of its mirth as she spoke, "Good Hunter, I have not lost my memories."

"...What?"

Matilda nodded, "Yes. I still remember who I was. Matilda, the Living Doll Mamono. One who joined the Kuroferuru Sabbath and wished to bring the 'love of little girls' to all. That is who I once was. But not anymore."

She stepped passed the Huntress and over to where Eve sat on the bed. She knelt to one knee while bowing her head in reverence to the Plain Doll, "Now? Now I am Matilda, Assistant to the Plain Doll, Caretaker of the Dream and its Master."

"But...but still.."

"And besides, you did not make me."

The Huntress' surprise only grew at Matilda's words. The Assistant Doll got to its feet then raised her arms up towards Eve. Understanding the gesture, Eve reached down then brought the smaller doll into her embrace. Matilda laid her head against the Plain Doll's chest, a happy sigh leaving her as she heard the impossible heartbeat within her creator's chest.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"What...what do you mean?" Selina asked, moving to stand by Eve's right side, "How...how could I have-"

"You are not the catalyst for my creation. You are a cause for it, true, but the primary reason for my new existence is Eve," Matilda turned to regard the Huntress, the smile never leaving her face, "As my soul left my body, she held me close and allowed me to feel the immense love you have for her. That powerful love that made the impossible reality flowed from her into the space left by my soul. This created a new being in the shape of the old. This created me. And bound my soul to Eve's."

Selina turned to Eve for confirmation. The Plain Doll could only nod, "What she says is true, Good Hunter. If there are any to blame for her current state, it is I. I was unaware that simply holding her close would result in this."

"Don't blame yourself, Eve," Selina shook her head, "I doubt anyone could've seen this coming. However, if you retain your memories, why do you wish to stay with us? Isn't there anyone you wish to see again?"

Matilda shook her head, "Not with the Sabbath. At least, no longer. When I used to be Matilda, the Living Doll, I would always look back on my actions as for an ultimate good. Bringing love to people that truly needed it. And I saw my companions as those who sought to do the same. But now...now I am not so sure. When I look back on those memories I can't help but feel a sense of...dread. At how I was forcing others into a life that they may not have wanted. At how those people were fundamentally changed, much like what happened to me. But where I am still able to be myself and make my own decisions, those I changed can do nothing but seek out men to force into being Incubi."

"Then there is nothing you still wish to accomplish, Little Assistant?" Eve asked while rubbing Matilda's head.

Matilda's smile actually wavered this time. It slowly turned into a frown as she spoke, "There is one. My original goal. The main thing that led me to such despair as my previous self lay dying; To find my creator. I still wish to see him once again. To give him love...but not the kind I would before. This love will be like the one you have shown me, Eve. One that stands the test of time and is pure of all sexual thoughts and desires."

The two older women went silent at Matilda's words. Matilda's smile returned and she snuggled into Eve's chest, "But I am in no hurry. I wish to remain by Eve and your side, Good Hunter. Until the day that I may find my creator, I shall be your ever faithful assistant."

"...I understand," Selina said with a sigh. She placed a hand on her head before moving towards the door, "This is...not something I anticipated. I shall see you both soon. I must go check on the children and ready myself for bed."

When Selina was gone Matilda looked up at Eve, "A question if I may, Eve."

"What do you wish to ask, Little Assistant?" Eve replied in a calm voice.

"Why have you not told her the truth yet? Why have you not revealed what she truly is?"

Eve was silent for a time. Despite her face being unable to express emotion, the barest hint of a frown tugged at her lips. She drew Matilda closer as she spoke, "Because...when the Good Hunter first learned of her new existence...she did nothing but scream in pain. For years on end, she did nothing but wail and lament her transformation into the things she attempted to destroy. And she would not be calmed...no matter how tightly I held her. It wasn't until she brought the Dream to this Waking World that she finally calmed down. Now, she has returned to her original self and has managed to find some worth in this Waking World."

"And you will not take that way by telling her the truth?" Matilda asked. At Eve's nod she continued, "You realize she will discover the truth sooner or later?"

"Yes," Eve admitted, "And I can only hope that, when the time comes, she finds some way to make peace with it."

"And if she doesn't?"

"...Then I will be by her side. And I will hold her close. Even as the very world around us is torn asunder."

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Night

"Boss? You sure this is the right place?"

Sera smacked the questioning subordinate hard enough to send her flying. She landed on a rotted wooden table, shattering it with her weight fall. She rolled around in the debris, splinters and worse stabbing into her skin.

"Quiet!" Sera shouted, her voice coming out as growl from within her helm. However, her attempt to look intimidating was nullified by her wincing in pain. A hand flew to her left hip as she felt the heat of her own blood falling onto her skin. She looked down to see the rapidly bloodying bandages wrapped around her torso.

With a growl she looked around at the rest of the Vipers. She waved a hand through the air, "What you standing around for?! Start looking for that fucking new merchant! And two of you stand watch at the door!"

The eight Viper members still standing quickly spread out into the small slum house. Two went over to help their fallen comrade to her feet, and two more stood watch as the Viper King bid. Only when they were all busy searching the house did Sera move towards a wall to lean against it. She grit her teeth while cursing the girl who managed to wound her. She had gotten it bandaged and cleaned, but the blow had cut deep. Deep enough that she'd need better care than anyone in the Vipers or the slums could give. She'd need a health potion, a spell, or something like that. Problem was all those things were in the main part of Pran. The part they weren't welcome in.

"Shit," Sera growled out while moving with one hand on a crumbling wall. Wouldn't usually be a problem, but something seemed to have lit a fire under the Guard's asses. They've been cracking down on crime all over the city. She's even seen entire patrols moving through the slums. Worst part was she had no way to know why it was happening. And it all connected back to Montgomery's death.

Her stealthiest soldiers were killed by those damn sell-swords, her gang had been knocked down to just her and nine others, and she didn't dare use up any of their funds to bribe a guard. Too high a chance they'll either rat her out, or she'd lose out on money her remaining members wanted. They couldn't just recruit anyone new with the guards being so aggressive. No one wants to get caught joining a gang when there was a high chance of being arrested or killed. And while that fat fuck Montgomery wouldn't have been able to make all their problems just disappear, he would've been able to give them some extra gold. Enough to help her keep her guys together and maybe purchase some breathing room or something.

She looked up at the sound of one of her own Vipers calling her. Biting down her pain, she stood up straight and walked over to their position.

Thus the reason she even came to this rotting dump of a place. Turns out, Montgomery had managed to get an apprentice. He probably told her at some point but she honestly didn't care very much. Kid didn't know anything about her deal with the fat fuck, and as long as it stayed that way there would be no problems. But it seems like he's figured shit out since Brigid's death. Sent her a letter saying he wanted to "reaffirm the relationship she had with his mentor". She'd usually be more careful than to just trust that...but she was in dire straits.

Which means she couldn't afford to be paranoid right now.

"What did you find?" she asked the man that had called her over.

He pointed at a something small and white laying on the floor, "Found this. Looks out of place."

Scowling, Sera waved a hand at the object, "Well? Pick it up! What are you waiting for?!"

Flinching the Viper did as ordered. He held up a small, rectangular piece of paper in between his fingers. Sera snatched it from his hand and began to open it. Silently thanking Nick for helping her practice with her using her steel gauntlets for delicate tasks so many years ago, she started to read the letter. She had to squint a bit until her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Then what she read made her eyes go wide.

Dear Viper King,

This is a trap.

Goodbye.

Sera tossed the note to the side, grabbed the Viper with the thickest armor closest to her, then moved him between her and the front exit to the building.

A second later a hail of crossbow bolts came flying through the front. The building's rotting wood was little protection against the sharped bolts. They crashed through whatever was in their way and pierced the bodies of the Vipers. Three went down in the initial barrage, blood pooling below them as they fell to the ground dead. Three more hit the deck, screaming in pain as their arms and legs went limp. The one Sera had used as a shield went limp in her grasp, three bolts piercing his neck, thigh, and right shoulder. She tossed him aside then ran towards the back of the building.

There wasn't a door there, but she didn't care. With a roar of effort she smashed through the rotting wood with her claws just when a second salvo fell upon them. The last standing Vipers went down as they tried to chase their leader. Some of the bolts flew after Sera, a few managing to cut into her skin as they flew passed. Eventually, she managed to get far enough away that any bolt shot shouldn't reach her. Yet she still couldn't help but scowl while biting back an angry roar.

What remained of the Vipers just died back in the home.

Now what was she supposed to do?

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"One got away, huh?" Guard Captain Felix rubbed his beard, his cat sitting on his shoulder as he looked through the recently made hole in the back wall of the building. His plan had worked like a charm. All the Vipers were trapped in the one place his men happened to be watching over that night. All it took was a few crossbow salvos, and they managed to put down most if not all of the gang.

Well, save for the one that managed to escape.

And with his luck, it was probably their leader.

"Sir, should we pursue?" one of his Guards, Mike he believed, asked while holding his crossbow up.

Felix shook his head, "Not through these packed alleyways where she can pick you off one by one. Up the patrols in both the slums and the main roads as much as you can without costing us manpower. We need to be sure these snakes are stomped out."

"Yes sir!" Mike said before marching to join the rest of the guards. Felix nodded after him, watching the hole in the wall with a scowl on his face.

This entire operation had been easy. Too easy.

He knew another shoe was going to drop.

But he wasn't sure when.

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Day 3

Early Morning (Still Dark Out)

"Koga-san?"

The charcoal in Koga's hand froze. He lifted his head and set his sights on Akuri. The kunoichi was sitting right across from him, the campfire between them sending shadows dancing along her body. He spoke in a voice devoid of emotion, "Yes?"

Akuri shifted about, her knees moving up to her chest as she spoke, "Would you...like some assistance with that?"

"No," Koga's reply was shift and brokered no argument. He turned his attention back to the map laying in his lap. There were already a few black marks on it from earlier. They had been staying as close to the river as they could, with the hope that it will eventually lead them to more civilization. They set up camp within this forest clearing when their horses began to fatigue. As it currently stood, they had found few actual landmarks or areas that could be useful for the battle to come. Much of the area beyond Pran was either grasslands with a few hills or forest. Still there could be something here. They had to keep looking.

Koga heard Nobu whinny from behind him, Akuri's horse, Mimi, following soon after. Both were laying down with their hands against the forest floor. It wouldn't take long for them to fall to sleep.

Akuri went silent for a bit. Then she spoke again, "Perhaps you'd like to take a bath in the river nearby?"

"You may if you wish. I have no need for such things."

"But what if you start to-"

"I am undead. What do I care how I smell?"

Akuri went silent again. Her eyes remained locked on Koga, even as he refused to look at her. She tried again, "Would you like to hear how Lady Teresa is doing?"

"Last I saw she was doing fine. Unless something changed between the time we were at Pran and now, I would not like to hear it."

"O...OK," Akuri felt her spirits falls even further. She wrapped her one arm around her knees as she searched for something to talk to Koga about. Anything that could...

Her eyes widened as a revelation came over her. The words left her mouth before she had a chance to stop them, "Would you like to hear about when you were Kogero?"

The charcoal stopped.

Koga was still and Akuri thought she had made a mistake.

Then he put the charcoal away, rolled up the map, walked to Nobu, put the items in his saddlebag, then walked back to the campfire. He sat across from Akuri and stared her down with ice in his gaze, "Speak."

Feeling hope kindle in her heart, Akuri cleared her throat, "Well...um...how about when we first met? It's an interesting tale."

Koga waved for her to continue. As he did, Akuri scooted a bit to the right side of the campfire, "Well, Mistress Scarlet had decided she needed another guardian. I suggested we go to my homeland in search of one. When we stepped off the ship we immediately began our search. Mistress had already decided it would be a Mamono and she wanted someone who would serve her with undying loyalty."

Akuri scooted a bit further, getting a quarter of the way to Koga's side, "We traveled the lands for a time. We avoided the easy places one could hire bodyguards from, as they would likely only be loyal to coin. It wasn't until the second month that we ran across a graveyard in the dead of night. There we discovered you, kneeling before a grave, nothing save the clothes on your back and blade at your side. When you saw us, your eyes were completely dead. I doubt you even realized we were actually there."

Akuri moved once again. By this point she was sitting right next to Koga. She, carefully, placed her hand on his thigh as she continued, "You stood there, watching us approach, not reacting whatsoever. Then...Mistress held a hand out to you. She asked you if you wished to serve a master once again. That is what lit the fire in your eyes once more."

Akuri looked up into Koga's eyes, moving close to press her body against his side, "And the first words you ever said, were not to Mistress Scarlet but to me. You said, 'I look forward to standing by your side, Honored Shadow."

Akuri closed her eyes and lifted her face towards Koga's. She lifted her arm and pulled her mask down, revealing lips prepared to receive a kiss.

...What she got was Koga's hand on her face.

Her eyes widened as he pushed her away and stood up. She fell onto her side, eyes wide with shock as they followed after the Ochimusha. Koga walked to Nobu's side and removed his sword from the steed's back.

"Be thankful, Shadow," Koga replied while putting his sword through his sash, "The story you told has given me insight into my previous life. I have regained some of the memories thought lost to me. Enough to not consider this a reason to end you here and now."

"But...but...but why?" Akuri asked as she got to her feet, "I...I love you! Can't you see that? Don't you want me, too?"

Koga looked Akuri dead in the eyes...and slowly shook his head, "The love you feel is false, monster. And I will not take part in reaffirming your delusions."

He turned towards the treeline and began walking towards the treeline, "I am going to train. Do not follow me."

And just like that he left.

Akuri stayed standing for a few moments.

Then she fell to her knees as tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Why? Why?" her voice trembled as she cried out to the empty air, "Why doesn't he love me? Why, even as he hurts me, why do I still love him!?"

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Koga stopped his blade inches from the trunk of the tree. He mentally counted how long it took for him to place his blade back in its sheathe. It clicked into place when he reached five seconds.

He grit his teeth in frustration, "Too slow. Again."

He did the movement again, this time cutting it down to three seconds.

"Too slow. Again."

He did it again. Two seconds.

"Again."

One second.

"Again."

And so it went. His blade getting progressively faster and faster as he kept practicing his swing. When it got to a speed he was satisfied with, he switched from a horizontal angle to a vertical one.

This strike took him six seconds.

"Too slow," he repeated as he did the attack again.

The entire time he was training he felt the raging emotions within him calm down. Just as they had in the Hunter's Dream. When the Good Hunter had left him, he immediately began trying to cultivate and master his rage the only way he knew how: Practicing his swordsmanship.

He lost count of how many times he swung that blade at empty air withing that Dream Realm. But with each swing he could feel his anger, his rage, his indignation slowly but surely recede into his heart. It didn't disappear, but it was much more manageable than when he returned from that...Nightmare.

The thought of that place, of the horrible monsters, of the strange horse like creature that he had to vanquish to leave...

He heard the sound of steel cutting into wood.

He looked up and saw his blade stuck in the trunk of the tree.

"..Damn," he said while pulling his blade out. He would need to get the whetstone from Nobu's saddlebag later to ensure it stayed sharp.

He shook his head and sheathed his blade once more. He turned in the direction of the camp, lips curling into a frown.

"Damn Kunoichi," he growled under his breath. How dare she! When she first suggested telling him of his past as Kogero, he had been genuinely interested. He wished to know exactly what he was like when he was a Mamono. And figured that Akuri was trying to help him regain his lost memories. That had earned her his respect...until she revealed her true intentions.

He shook his head, "I should've known better. She maybe acting civil, but she is still a Mamono. Whatever she may present to me isn't real. It's just her nature to want me. She only sees me as a prize to be won. Not a person."

"That is not true, Koga."

Koga felt his body tense. The air around him had suddenly changed. A familiar chill went up his spine while the world around him seemed to go still. He felt his hands go numb while the blue flame in his skull-like shoulder pad died out. Slowly, carefully, he turned his head to see what was standing behind him. What was giving off that strange, alien, yet familiar feeling. What was making his entire being feel like it was standing in front of someone that deserved his respect.

When he turned full body to face what...no...who was standing behind him, he felt his limbs go colder than they already were.

For he knew exactly who he was looking at.

There was no way he could ever mistake her for someone else.

For all undead know of the Goddess of Death itself.

Hel.